Dixmont book offers 2 centuries of history

From May to August 1847, three children had perfect attendance of 69 days at Dixmont’s School Register District No. 1: Albert Luce, Minot Luce and Sarrah Luce. Racking up 68 days were Araminda Dodge, Mary R. Kimball, Sarrah Hodge and Everat Genison.

In fact, the whole roster of District No. 1, ages 3 to 16, is listed in “Dixmont Maine 1807-2007,” published by the town’s Dixmont Historical Society Committee.

It’s been two years since Dixmont marked its bicentennial, but you can still purchase a copy of this very nice 449-page history, plus index.

If you stop by the town office in Dixmont, you can pick up a copy for $30.

By mail, the price is $35, sent to Town of Dixmont, P.O. Box 100, Dixmont, ME 04932.

Eleanor Toothaker was the town historian. In 1976, she updated the town history her father had written in 1907, and she wrote articles for town reports 1982-2002. She taught school for many years in New Sharon and Pittsfield, and I particularly like this paragraph from the Dixmont book:

Eleanor touched the lives of many pupils, imparting to them, in addition to the subject matter of schools, the lessons that life teaches and a good bit of herself. During the Depression, she bought milk and clothes for children in her classes who could not afford either and made sure each received a Christmas present. Eleanor was fond of sports, children and dogs and was generous with her time and energy.

The treasures in this history are far more than I can enumerate, from military honor rolls to old photos to information about more recent and current residents and wonderful writings by many of them.